Frisco's history began with the Ute Indians who first traveled the region now known as Summit County.

The first white men to come through this area were known as "mountain men" who trapped in the high mountain lakes for the thick coat of the beaver. The mountain men trapped in this territory from 1810 to around the 1840's.

The 1870's brought mining to Frisco. Founded in 1873 by Henry Recen, the Town of Frisco quickly developed thanks in part to the locale's many mines. By 1882 the permanent population reached 250 with two railroads, many businesses, hotels and saloons, not to mention "loads of mines."

Now......Experience Frisco's rich and colorful history firsthand at the Frisco Historic Park at 2nd and Main. Here you can tour eleven original 1880 buildings that were once saloons, hotels, log homes, the original log chapel, and even a dairy cattle ranch house.

This is the third time the historical society has hosted a tour and party at the Frisco cemetery, near the marina, but it's been several years since the last one. The idea originated as a way to raise money to purchase gravestones "because there are so many unmarked graves in the cemetery," Bartram said.

In addition to being a fund raiser, the event also is a great way to learn local history and have some fun, too.

The three tours give guests a chance to peek into history. Several Frisco residents - including Mayor Bob Moscatelli and Councilmember Bernie Zurbriggen - have agreed to play the parts of several people buried in the town's cemetery.

Each tour will stop at seven graves, where residents dressed in costume portraying the deceased share a bit of their part in history, Bartram said. (Reservations are not required, but Bartram asked that visitors choose the tour - 3:30, 4 or 4:30 - most convenient for them so the tours will be more balanced in number, rather than everyone crowding into the first tour as has happened in the past.)

Among the highlighted personalities are Susan Badger, known for giving a nickel to the child who presented her with the first May flower each spring; Henry Recen, who founded Frisco; a miner; and a soiled dove (another term for prostitute).

Recen is the only one featured in the tour who is not actually buried in the cemetery. Bartram said he's buried on the Gore Range Trail, but since he is such an important part of Frisco's past, it seemed necessary to include him on this walk through history.

The miner and soiled dove do not have identities, per se. Bartram said there isn't enough information to know all of those buried in the cemetery, but since mining and prostitution were a part of Frisco then, historical society officials created a composite of various true stories to represent those left unnamed.

The historical society raised enough money from the first two fund raisers to purchase 20 gravestones, Bartram said. Thirteen already have been placed, and the remaining seven will be erected this week.

Bartram said the money from this year's party will be used to purchase benches for the cemetery.

Light appetizers, beer, wine and soft drinks will be offered after the tour, and local musician Keith Synnestvedt will entertain guests with guitar and song.

There are no backup plans in case of rain, and Bartram said she has no plans of canceling the event with inclement weather.

Lu Snyder can be reached at 970-668-3998 x203 or lsnyder@summitdaily.com

The cemetery is located on the eastern edge of Frisco, next to Dillon Reservoir, and is directly across the street from the marina. It contains many unmarked graves. It is my understanding that the Frisco Historical Society is attempting to reconstruct the records for the unmarked graves. I transcribed this cemetery in August of 1998 and will be updated when the Society is finished with their research.

The date the Frisco Cemetery was established is uncertain; what is known is that itis more than 100 years old. Much of the cemetery appears overgrown, but it isdeliberately left in that condition for most people interred there had requested "burialin the wild." The cemetery has four plots; the three in the wild are reserved for theDeming, Lund and Thomas/Mogee families, while the one in the mowed area is formembers of the Rocky Mountain Bible Church. It is surmised that most of the earliestand unmarked graves are for miners or prostitutes.

In 1951 a big uproar erupted in the town when newcomer Emil Slovak claimed that ahalf acre of the cemetery was on his ranch. He erected a barbed-wire fence on whathe determined was his property line and threatened to dig up the graves on his side ofthe fence. After a court battle with Frisco officials, Slovak lost his case. He eventuallysold his ranch.

The cemetery doesn't house only the dead. The mowed area is home to dozens ofprairie dogs, and the wild area, especially the east side, counts at least one residentbadger. While the birds and squirrels that nest in the trees are welcome, the groundinhabitants are not.

Directions: The Frisco Cemetery is located on the east end of Main Street in Frisco.